SUNDERLAND will intensify efforts to find a new manager this week after sacking the controversial Paolo Di Canio, with former Chelsea and West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo installed as the bookmakers favourites.

Gus Poyet is also on the Sunderland shortlist, with Steven McClaren an outside bet. Alex McLeish, Tony Pulis, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Gianfranco Zola are all contenders.

Di Canio's last act as a Sunderland manager was a bizarre exchange with the club's fans after losing at the Hawthorns.

He walked over to the travelling fans and gestured to keep their chins up, before muttering under his breath as he maintained eye contact with the away end.

Di Canio's overhaul at the Stadium of Light has seen an Italian come in as Director of Football in Roberto De Fanti, suggesting Di Matteo could be a natural replacement.

Di Canio has struggled to get his team to gel this season [GETTY]

Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, who also played for and briefly managed the club, believes extrovert Di Canio's management style may have been his downfall.

"It's a quick decision; some will say too quick," Quinn said.

"They're making a quick decision on this again and looking back, the support Paolo Di Canio got in the summer with the players he brought in, I honestly thought he was going to get longer no matter the start.

"If we start to peel the layers off in the coming days and find out what life was like under him from various players, you'll probably see a story that says this was a guy who did things in a totally unique way and by the looks of things the players weren't buying into it."